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Saturday, December 31, 2005New Year Resolutions: Make them Reality!! There's something powerful about the end of an old year and the beginning of a new one. A sense of opportunity abounds, and there is a feeling that the slate can be wiped clean and a new beginning can take root. To accomplish that, we often set new year resolutions for things that we like to change, but we often lack the tools and motivation to really make those things happen. We may end up frustrated and with a sense of failure at not having achieved what we set out to do. This year, go beyond resolutions and take some extra steps to create your new reality. Language is so important here; it's not enough just to list those things you want to change, but instead create affirmative statements as if those changes have already taken place. Often we don't believe that we CAN accomplish our goals, so stating them affirmatively helps to imprint our message into our neurological system which then begins to make real changes in our attitudes. In creating your statements, try to determine what has kept you from making these changes in the past and incorporate these reasons into your affirmative statements. Some examples would be: Instead of saying "I want to lose 10 pounds," say: I enjoy preparing and eating just the right amount of delicious foods that nourish and satisfy me completely. Instead of saying "I will exercise every day," say: My daily workouts fill me with energy and vitality. Instead of saying "I will spend more time with family and friends," say: My friends and family are a valuable source of support for me and spending time with them is a priority. Instead of saying "I will quit smoking," say: I am a non-smoker because my health is very important to me and I love the way my smoke-free life feels and the new energy that I have as a result. Instead of "I will get out of debt," say: I feel safe and secure knowing that I am debt-free and that there is plenty of money in my bank accounts to save for the future. Instead of "This year I will get organized," say: I am easily able to maintain my focus and effectively organize all of my tasks at home and at work, knowing that there is plenty of time to do everything that I want to do. Once you've created your list, read it every day. The daily imprinting of your new reality into both sides of your brain will help to make these changes a reality! Plus you will remember daily what you desire, and will be better able to make the small changes that will help make your desires your reality. peace and best wishes for the new year!! Friday, December 30, 2005Mars square SaturnAlthough this aspect didn't culminate until yesterday, it's been in effect for some time as part of the Grand Cross so it hasn't received the attention from me that it deserved. Mars square Saturn is often described as "driving with the brakes on" - Mars wants to go, to take action, and Saturn is the brakes that doesn't allow motion to happen. Mars often represents willful behavior, arrogance, aggrssion, and Saturn is the paternal scolding voice. We can see this at play in the escalation of tension in Iraq, in the increased outrage over the National Security Agency spying scandal, the pending Tube strike in London and the standoff between Russia and the Ukraine over gas supplies. The Mars/Saturn combination can offer a productive flow of energy if properly utilized: Saturn requires hard work and discipline, and if the energy of Mars can be harnessed and put to work great things can happen even in the challenging aspects between these planets. As discussed in other posts below, the tension of the Grand Cross builds until there is a release of energy that is a catalyst for change. Although all four planets are no longer in tight formation, they continue to dance around each other and we are likely to see a continuation of this tension over the next two weeks as Mars moves towards a stressful aspect with Jupiter and the ideological (Jupiter) battles (Mars) become louder and more strident, with Neptune entering the picture to mystify and confuse the issues. Neptune rules martyrdom and self-sacrifice, and we may see an increased number of suicide bombings in mid-month when Mars, Jupiter and Neptune are in tight formation. The Sun is approaching a conjunction with Venus in Capricorn over the next few days, usually a beneficial time (Sun/Venus) for getting things done (Capricorn). Hopefully the negotiation (Venus/Capricorn) possibilities of this time will help us to see the more positive results of the Mars/Saturn square! Thursday, December 29, 2005The Secret MoonBeth Owl's daughter reminds me: By the way, as I've been discussing on my website, this New Moon is also a second New Moon in one month, as rare as Blue Moons, but not as widely known (since by definition, they are invisible)! Folklore calls the second New Moon the Black Moon. It has also been called the Secret Moon,the Finder's Moon, and the Spinner Moon. It carries with it all the deep, wonderful magic of the New Moon, like planting the seed, new beginnings, and sending out our intention in order to manifest our heart's desires. Plus it is believed that the second dark moon is THE time of greatest power within the mysterious realms and any magick worked during this time is particularly powerful. The New Moon this month is in Capricorn on December 30 at 10:11 PM EST. New Moons occur when the lunar principle of emotional mind fuses with the solar principle of conscious mind (the sun conjunct the moon). New moons are times of beginnings, of clearings of old baggage and making a new start. How appropriate that this New Moon occurs just before the New Year, and in Capricorn, the sign of discipline and focus. This is the perfect time to create intention for the new year, to go beyond setting mere resolutions, but hone your focus and intent to create that which you desire in your life. This New Moon makes a trine to Mars, making the physical energy available to make it happen. Mars is square Saturn, so there is some blockage of the energy, but consistent focus will help to break through any blocks you encounter so that you can begin to manifest effectively. Also in play during this New Moon is a conjunction of Mercury with Pluto in Sagittarius. Mercury represents mental function and Pluto is power and regeneration. Mercury/Pluto periods can help sharpen our focus even more, like a laser with precision and intensity. In Sagittarius Mercury is optimistic and buoyant, and offers the confidence required to believe that all things are possible. Wednesday, December 28, 2005The Seven times Seven memeJill tagged me with this, and while I'm not sure what it is I'm going to play anyway: Seven things to do before I die:
Seven things I cannot do:
Seven things that attract me to blogging:
Seven things I say most often:
Seven books that I love:
Seven movies I watch over and over again:
Now I'm supposed to list seven bloggers I'd like to join in, but I'm new in the blogging game and don't know any well enough to ask them. Instead I'll list my seven favorite blogs: Brilliant at Breakfast (For more information, see these past articles discussing the Grand Cross of Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and Neptune in effect for the next few weeks.) For the past month or so, four planets have been dancing in a "Grand Cross" formation, with two sets of two planets opposite each other and square to their neighbors. Since early November, we have seen a faceoff with Mars (god of war and aggression) in a square (90 degree angle, within 5 degrees) to Saturn (restriction and limitation). Saturn has been opposite Neptune (the hidden or mysterious, confusion and illusion). Jupiter (god of philosophy, religion, theology and meaning) joined the party in early December, and the so-called War on Christmas became the focal point for some of the tension evident in American culture. In other parts of the world, the Iranian president denied that that the Holocaust ever took place, and in Iraq the historic election demonstrated the obvious fact that the Iraqi people self-identified along cultural lines. These planets will continue their dance through the end of January, culminating in the middle of the month when the formation between Mars, Jupiter and Neptune is exact at 15-16 degrees. Saturn will have retrograded backwards to the point where its influence falls out of the picture, which will soften the effect somewhat. Saturn is rigid and creates tension which often results in an explosion that instigates change, where Neptune is soft and fuzzy and creates mostly confusion. With Mars and Jupiter there is a lot of spiritual ego and self-righteousness, with little possibility of compromise. However, the fiery drama we've seen over the past month is likely to subside. Sunday, December 25, 2005Merry Christmas and a Cool Yule! The celebration of Christmas at the Winter Solstice is one of the more recent celebrations to mark the longest night of the year. Today as we celebrate the return of the Sun and the birth of the Sun God, I thought I'd share this good article about the origins of Christmas. However you celebrate the season, I wish you all the love, peace and joy that life on Earth can bring. Friday, December 23, 2005Surprising discoveries about Uranus In astrology, Uranus symbolizes radical change and eccentric behavior, it is the revolutionary of the zodiac. Astronomers have long known that Uranus possesses unusual features such as the fact that it is tipped nearly on its side relative to the sun with its south pole pointing towards the Sun. This gives it the strange orbit pattern of rolling about as it travels around the sun. New discoveries by scientists at the SETI institute demonstrate that the orbits of Uranus' inner moons and ring structures have dramatically changed over the past decade. The rings appear to be constantly replenished by fresh material (just as Uranus serves in the birthchart to constantly slough off old tired habits and patterns to replenish them with a new way of looking at our lives), and the orbits that the moons make relative to each other has also changed dramatically. This erratic and unusual behavior typifies the way Uranus operates in the birthchart of an individual and as it travels through the solar system and affects us by transit. Uranus rules revolution, it defies the status quo and seeks to remove from our lives anything that is tired and oppressive or which no longer serves us. Uranus has a tendency to coax out of us our secret longings to be our own completely unique individual. If we resist these impulses for too long, we may experience sudden urges to completely change our life, to walk our own path and break free of any restrictions that hold us back. Unlike the rings of Saturn which are more permanently defined signifying the structures that Saturn creates, the rings of the Uranian moons appear to be in constant flux. Astrologically, Uranus seeks to create an environment within us where there is adequate space and freedom to adapt and change as our evolution requires, and once again I am amazed at the synchronicity between the astronomical nature of the planets and their symbolism in our lives. Venus, traveling through Aquarius, turns retrograde on December 24. When Venus is retrograde we are often forced to pay more attention to our dealing with others and our own sense of connectedness and how well we manage our connections with those around us. At the same time, Venus has been moving into a conjunction with Chiron, the wounded healer. What a perfect time for this to happen as many of us regroup with our families at the holidays! In Aquarius Venus tends to be less emotional, more concerned with matters of fairness and equality and ensuring that everyone is given fair treatment. Connected to Chiron, however, old wounds and damaged places could erupt in a process that can ultimately be healing for all involved. The key to successfully navigating Chiron events is to pay attention and try not to hide from emotions as they attempt to make themselves known. During this period watch for there to be greater consideration of others in the public eye as well as in our personal lives. Venus will remain in retrograde motion through February 3, and the conjunction with Chiron will remain in effect for most of the holiday week. Wednesday, December 21, 2005Bush Update and this month's Grand CrossThanks to Jill for posting this article by Peter Daou from Salon about the dynamics of a Bush scandal. This corresponds very precisely with the Grand Cross occurring right now between Mars (aggression), Saturn (law/rules/restriction), Neptune (confusion and illusion) and Jupiter (philosophy, expansion):
Mars/Jupiter brings a sense of disregard (Mars) for established law (Jupiter), or being too self-important (Mars) to follow them. 2. The story breaks (in this case after having been concealed by a news organization until well after Election 2004). Hidden stories (Neptune) erupting (Mars) into public consciousness (Jupiter) after being blocked by the media (Saturn). 3. The Bush crew floats a number of pushback strategies, settling on one that becomes the mantra of virtually every Republican surrogate. These Republicans face down poorly prepped Dem surrogates and shred them on cable news shows. At least this part of the process is breaking down under the Grand Cross standoff. Aggressive Republican talking points (Mars) are being challenged by a strengthening opposition (Saturn) and the delusions imposed by the White House (Neptune) are being revealed. 10. The story starts blending into a long string of administration scandals, and through skillful use of scandal fatigue, Bush weathers the storm and moves on, further demoralizing his opponents and cementing the press narrative about his 'resolve' and toughness. Unfortunately the planets are saying that Bush may in fact weather this storm. Although he has a string of difficult Saturn transits earlier in the year, he is currently affected by Jupiter influences that are causing him to be more arrogant (Jupiter/Mars in his chart) than usual, and to care even less for established power structures (Jupiter square to his natal Pluto through next August). More importantly, Pluto (transformation) is making a harmonious aspect to the cusp of his career house, showing that he is likely to achieve success during this period. We can only hope that through this process he begins to learn from his errors and begin to become a more productive president.  Happy birthday Capricorns! Those born when the Sun was in Capricorn are ruled by Saturn and tend to take their responsibilities very seriously. The mission of Capricorn is to master the material world. In doing so, they may face many challenges and failures, but depending on the other influences in their chart they tend to stay focused and continue their efforts until success is achieved. Capricorn is tremendously practical and goal oriented, and every relationship and event is filtered through the lens of achievement. Will this person help me in my path? Will this job further my greater goals? But they also have a strong sense of responsibility and are dependable to a fault. For Capricorns and others born with Saturn prominent in their chart, it is said that they are old when they're young and young when they're old. Often in childhood there is tremendous loneliness or a heavy burden of responsibility. But that hard work at an early age brings a strength of character that helps them to blossom in their later life. Family and community is most important to Capricorn, and their sense of responsibility creates a strong sense of commitment in all of their relationships. As in their careers where they seek to build a successful life, they put all that they have into creating successful partnerships and families. Capricorn is not all about drudgery and achievement - there is a magic to exerting one's will on the material world and manifesting that which you desire, and that is the realm in which Capricorn excels. They understand better than anyone that prosperity is a gift from the gods, and they are unapologetic in their pursuit of those gifts. For many of them the material quest must come first, and then the spiritual can follow. Capricorn is not easy to get to know--they can be deeply introverted and shy. But there is gold beneath the serious exterior that is well worth discovering. Tuesday, December 20, 2005Born on the Cusp?The signs of the zodiac change every 30 days, and there is a brief period while the Sun passes from one sign to another that is known as the "cusp." Some people believe that individuals born several days before or after this time possess aspects of both signs, but I have not found this to be strictly true. When the Sun is leaving a sign, during the last two degrees or so, it's focus is moving towards the next sign and we often find an influence from the next sign beginning to make itself known; however, that doesn't mean that individuals born during this time are hybrids of both signs. For example, today the Sun is at 28-29 degrees Sagittarius and will move into Capricorn around midnight EST December 22. If your birthday is today, you are definitely a Sagittarian, but aspects of Capricorn are peeking into your personality. You may possess a greater degree of responsibility than those born even just a few days before, you may be more goal oriented and have less of a desire for adventure. Once the Sun passes into the next sign, however, it fully takes on the quality of that sign and there is no "cusp" effect. Think about a person in a doorway ready to walk from one room to another. Their body may be in the room they are leaving, but their attention is fully in the next room. Consequently, those born with the Sun in the first few degrees of an astrological sign can consider themselves fully members of that clan! Sunday, December 18, 2005Happy Birthday Brad Pitt!! Every now and then I have to use astrology for fun, like to peer behind the curtain and find out what in the world is going on with Brad Pitt. Taking up with Angelina Jolie, admittedly probably the most fascinating but unusual woman in the public eye, adopting her children but not getting married, Pitt has had lots of change over the past few years and I wanted to find out why. Brad Pitt has a Sagittarius Sun and Sagittarius rising - light hearted, generally optimistic, intent on enjoying life and seeking adventure. Sagittarians are hard to pin down, and generally seek a great deal of freedom in their lives. Interestingly, his Sun makes no aspects to any other planet (we say it is "unaspected"), a phenomenon that is fairly rare. Unaspected Sun people tend to operate alone - they may be in relationships with others, but they don't form attachments easily and often feel isolated. His Sun falls in his first house of personality and identity, showing us that developing his persona and expressing his own reality is his mission. This is someone whose radiance shines best unadulterated by inteference from others. On the other hand, he has four planets in Capricorn, the sign of responsibility, hard work and discipline, including all of the personal planets: Mars, Mercury, Moon and Venus. On the other, he is a "double Sagittarius) (Sun and rising sign) with its associated need for freedom and adventure. Jupiter in his chart, his chart "ruler" since it rules both his Sun and rising sign/ascendant, falls in Aries and squares Mars which it rules. This is a "double whammy" associating the the search for meaning and ones innate faith in life with the god of war (Aries/Mars), demonstrating an individual who has a courageous nature, and whose desires and drives (Aries/Mars) are expansive and tends to be impulsively expressed. Jupiter is in the fourth house of the home and family, showing Brad Pitt's desire to build a home both literally and figuratively. Pitt has an exact opposition (180 degrees) of Chiron (the wounded healer) to Uranus (electromagnetic energy) which is also conjunct Pluto. The Uranus/Pluto conjunction of the early 1960s brought about a tremendous shift in the power balance between men and women, blacks and whites. Those individuals born during that time bear that challenge within them of integrating the revolutionary urge of Uranus with the need to establish a strong power base of Pluto. Adding the opposition of Chiron opens up another dimension of thought and the potential of wisdom, but also a tendency towards nervous issues. Balancing all of these differing influences can be quite difficult: he has a strong need for commitment (Capricorn) in order to feel emotionally secure (Moon), he has a strong drive (Mars) to be successful and achieve something lasting (Capricorn), he is a practical and detailed thinker (Mercury) and he longs in relationships (Venus) to be responsible to his friends and romantic partners. Yet he also feels a need to be free, to avoid being tied down. Brad Pitt started filming Mr. and Mrs. Smith with Angelina Jolie in the fall of 2003. By March 2004 filming had to be stopped because both stars kept coming down with the flu. (Chiron conjuncted his Moon and Venus in February and throughout the spring of 2004, bringing up emotional issues (Moon) which can easily turn into health problems. The pressure of Chiron on Venus also would have brought out any unresolved problems in his marriage to Jennifer Aniston and exacerbated the difficulty inherent in keeping any on-screen romance from turning into reality.) In August of 2004 and throughout the spring of 2005, Saturn opposed Pitt's Moon and Venus, adding even more pressure to the relationship realm. It is during this period that Brad Pitt separated from his wife and began openly dating Jolie. Also in early 2005 he entered into one of the challenging "midlife crisis" transits, the "Neptune Square" where transiting Neptune makes a square (90 degree aspect) to Neptune in the birthchart. This can be a very disorienting time, where your view of reality becomes shaky and it is very easy to become caught up in illusion, delusion and confusion. Neptune casts a glamor on us and while it brings us great imagination and creativity, it can also make it difficult to determine what is truly real in our lives. During this same period (from May of '05) he went through the next of the midlife crisis transits, the Uranus opposition, where transiting Uranus opposes Uranus in the birthchart and creates within us an urgent need to break free of the routines that are keeping us from following our life's dream. What's in store for Brad Pitt in 2006? The conjunction of Pluto (god of death and rebirth) to his Sun could create tremendous transformation in his life. This is a period where we become turned inside out and recreated from within. It can be a tremendously exhilarating time if we are able to let go to change, but it can be difficult as well. It is not unusual to encounter death during Pluto periods, such as the death of a loved one or family member. At the same time Uranus will oppose Pluto in his chart, another intense time of emotional shifts and change. If Brad has approached these changes over the past couple of years with conscious attention and awareness, the next year could be an incredible time of personal growth and realization of his inner dreams. But if as I suspect he has impulsively left his past behind in a stubborn insistence of a new reality, he could be heading for a fall over the next year. Only time will tell! Friday, December 16, 2005Explosions continue during December Grand CrossI've been amazed at the number of explosions in the news over the past few weeks as Saturn and Jupiter square off against fiery Mars during the December Grand Cross (see other articles below for more details about the Grand Cross). Friday morning as of 6:30 am: An explosion occurred at a Russian nuclear plant outside St. Petersburg. A gas chamber's control room exploded in Bhopal, India. There have been two explosions at the Augustine Volcano in Alaska over the past week. Wednesday a hospital in Cambridge Massachusetts had to be evacuated in freezing cold temperatures after a boiler exploded. On Tuesday, when the Moon joined the other planets in the Grand Cross: A Bergenfield New Jersey apartment complex exploded after construction workers hit a gas line. A chemical explosion took place in a Perdue poultry plant in Maryland. A gas line exploded in an apartment building in Westminster Colorado caused a huge fire that forced 100 people out of their homes. A gas explosion took place in aerosols factory in Liverpool UK. A meth lab in a Super 8 Motel in Lake City Florida. Monday: A pillbox exploded in a Manila suburb injuring at least 20 people as the result of a business feud. An explosion rocked Central Athens when two gas canisters ignited in an apparent terrorist attack. Last Sunday an oil depot exploded in the UK, with a blast so intense it ripped a buried back-up generator right out of the ground. Most of these explosions were unrelated to political unrest, and simply the result of a combustive atmosphere linked to gas lines. I expect this explosive environment to continue until the fire of Mars makes its last square to repressive Saturn at the end of December. Thursday, December 15, 2005The end may be near for Karl Rove Raw Story reports today that Patrick Fitzgerald, special prosecutor in the Valerie Plame leak case, is getting close to an indictment of Karl Rove for obstruction of justice. Karl Rove has been known as "Bush's Brain" and the architect of the Bush presidency, but he has been a political activist since the age 0f 9 when, as rumor has it, a little girl who supported Kennedy in the 1960 elections beat him up and he decided to support Nixon in revenge. In high school he began the famous Rovian tactics of smear tactics that put him and George W. Bush in the white house not just once, but twice. Karl Rove's birth chart shows us that he is a deeply insecure man, with Saturn in Libra in square (90 degrees) to his Sun. Saturn in Libra often describes an individual who feels a great deal of self-doubt (Saturn) in relationships with others (Libra), and with Saturn square his Sun (his sense of Self), he has a deep-rooted sense of inadequacy and shyness. This square is part of a larger formation that also includes Uranus, the revolutionary, opposing his Sun in Capricorn. Rove has three planets in Capricorn including Sun, Venus and Mercury. Capricorn people are heavily responsible and driven to accomplish something great. Uranus opposes Rove's Sun, making him a bit of a maverick since Uranus rules revolution and destruction of the status quo. Rove has several unaspected planets including Mars (Bush also has an unaspected Mars), demonstrating his ability to operate independently and answer to no one. This Mars is being hit by the Grand Cross (see references in articles below), and it is no wonder that the chickens are coming home to roost for Rove. Watch for matters to become increasingly challenging for him over the past month as the pressures from Saturn, Jupiter, Neptune and Mars in Grand Cross formation bring these issues to a head. The past year has been relatively easy for Rove from an astrological viewpoint, with transiting Uranus trine his natal Uranus which generally institutes a liberating cycle where we are able to shake off the shackles of convention and create a new way of living our life. However, the influences of the Grand Cross begins a Saturn cycle (squaring Mars in his chart) which is likely to bring indictments and convictions. This will be exacerbated by a challenging transit of Pluto conjunct Chiron (the wounded healer) in his chart beginning in January. He is certainly beginning to feel that now. When Pluto transits Chiron in our charts we often experience tremendous pain (Chiron) as the god of transformation (Pluto) interacts with the god of healing (Chiron) through breaking through our protective barriers and performing major psychic surgery. If we refuse to examine our inner wounds these cycles can create an environment where our health suffers, and we may see this coming up for Karl Rove during the first quarter of the year. The Full Moon occurs when the Moon opposes the Sun (they are 180 degrees apart); symbolically the instinctive emotions represented by the Moon are illuminated by the more rational light of the Sun. This is a time when creative energies come to a head, where emotions and brainpower come together. This is particularly true when the Moon is in Gemini as it is today, and the Sun is in Sagittarius (we say this is a Full Moon in Gemini). Gemini is the sign of mental acuity, and Sagittarius is concerned with matters of philosophy and meaning, With these two influences at work over the next few days there is a great possibility of reaching an understanding regarding the conflicts brought about by the Grand Cross (see articles below) if the parties involved are able to let go of their attachment to power because the Sun conjuncts Pluto for the next few days, also opposing the Moon. Pluto deals with issues of power, death and transformation. He is one powerful guy! Pluto requires that we delve into the underworld of our subconscious and allow the psychic debris to be released. This month's Full Moon will be a great time for communication, for business meetings, for balancing our power bases. Expect its effects to continue for about three days after today. Tuesday, December 13, 2005Explosions, earthquakes, executions, race riotsExplosions in an oil depot near London and in New Jersey, earthquakes in the Kashmir Valley, Australia and Afghanistan, execution of Tookie Williams, and race riots in Sydney Australia. Disturbing, but not surprising during this Grand Cross period. The tension inherent in the Grand Cross formation can explode into consciousness in our personal lives as well. With Mercury in Sagittarius, discussions with those around us with whom we may not disagree could help defuse tensions and prevent conflicts from erupting into rage. Caution may be needed over the next few days as the Sun approaches a conjunction with Pluto, both in Sagittarius. There's a lot of fire energy about right now and using it productively will be the goal AND the challenge! Monday, December 12, 2005Mercury back in Sagittarius...where it will remain until January 4th. Mercury first passed into Sag on October 30 and remained there until it retrograded back into the intensity of Scorpio back on November 25. With Mercury in Sagittarius, communication (Mercury) will be of a lighter nature and will center around discussions of values and philosophy (Sagittarius). We are still in the midst of the Grand Cross (see below) so there is still quite a bit of aggressive intensity with Saturn blocking the energies of Mars and Jupiter and the whole system clouded by Neptune. However, Mercury moving back into Sag will facilitate communication, and this will be enhanced by the harmonious aspect (sextile) between Mercury and the healing energy of Chiron.  The story of Tookie Williams could be my own. Tookie Williams and I both came of age during the era where Power to the People was the rallying cry, where women needed men like fish needed bicycles, and where Black Power thrillingly began to free african-americans from the shackles of slavery and Jim Crow. As a white girl from the New Jersey suburbs I had never met a black person except the women who might clean our house, but when I got to college I found I related to the black girls in my dorm much better than the whites. Angry with my parents, my family, and the world in general, I found myself in comfortable surroundings with the student revolutionary movements. A shared revolutionary fervor established a kinship between the radical student groups and the Black Panthers, and the repression of black people helped to stir the boiling pot of resentment on college campuses. Bombings of student buildings were discussed, and several of my friends went underground when plots were discovered and were never heard from again. Fortunately, I discovered meditation shortly thereafter which I found to be a superior method of handling my distress and safely retreated from the world of revolutionaries. While I was discussing bombing buildings, Tookie Williams was organizing the Crips gang out of smaller gangs that were loosely associated with the Black Panthers. In those days there was a strong Robin Hood mentality, that it was ok to steal from the powerful to give to the poor and weak. ( There is some evidence that the CIA sold assault weapons and cocaine to the Crips and Bloods in order to fund the Sandanista movement in Nicaragua. The side effect of this intervention was to increase the violence between the gangs and help the black community to destroy itself.) Tookie Williams went to prison in 1979, and in the late 1980s spent 6-1/2 years in solitary confinement for multiple assaults. However, since 1993 he has gained world-wide attention for his work in keeping children from entering gangs and has bee nominating for a Nobel peace price. Tuesday he will be put to death for the murders of four people, proving that our prison system is more about the Judeo-Christian "eye for an eye" vengeance that truly rehabilitating human beings. The birthchart of Tookie Williams is a powerful one. He has three planets in Capricorn including his Sun, Venus and Chiron, showing a strong focus on the Capricorn virtues of hard work and building something lasting that society will recognize. His Mars is in Scorpio, a placement that reveals a powerful charisma and passionate approach to life. An exact opposition between Chiron (the wounded healer) and Uranus (the revolutionary) tells of a strong karmic need to be an agent for change, to heal the problems in his society, and both of these planets are square to Neptune, forming a "T-square" that is a powerful aspect that is very difficult to manage but generates a great deal of energy and strength. The presence of Neptune here shows a potential for martyrdom, for losing himself (Neptune) in the cause and becoming a scapegoat for society's greater ills. This past summer Tookie transiting Saturn (delay, disappointment, discipline) began a difficult cycle for him, coming on the heels of an expansive year with multiple transits by Jupiter and Uranus. However, he is just beginning a harmonious cycle of Pluto, the god of death and rebirth, signifying that his death will evoke not only liberation for Mr. Williams, but hopefully his death and the discussion surrounding it will help to facilitate the revolutionary impact for which he spent his life working. Saturday, December 10, 2005Mars turned direct today!Mars has been in retrograde motion since October, and the Grand Cross alignment has been slowly but surely working its way into place. Only Saturn now remains retrograde, and the energy of the Grand Cross is beginning to intensify. With Mars retrograde we were seeing the preparations for this powerful alignment between Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and Neptune which will be as close over the next two weeks as it ever will be. Watch for emotions begin to boil; in our personal lives these energies are easiest handled through vigorous physical activity and expression of our personal will. With Neptune in the equation the issues will not always make themselves clear and there may be a great deal of confusion. The entry of Mercury into Sagittarius on Monday will help to lighten all situations that we find ourselves in. Friday, December 09, 2005Stephen Colbert joins the war on ChristmasThanks to Jill for posting a link to this video on One Good Move. Thank goodness Stephen Colbert (of Daily Show fame) is coming to the rescue of Christmas. The rest of us will be enjoying our decorated pagan tree, yule log and outdoor lights to welcome the return of the Sun at the Winter Solstice. Thursday, December 08, 2005The Future of ReligionTim Boucher has a great post today speculating on what the future will bring for religion. His ideas tie in closely with major upcoming planetary events: As the Latino population increases in America, and big companies start advertising more to and being fluent in their culture, I bet we’ll see a huge upswing in Latin and Afro-Carribean religious practices, like Santeria, Voodoo, and all the other variants. The planet Uranus brings revolution and breaks up rigid social patterns in the sign that it travels through, and earlier this year Uranus moved into Pisces, the sign of the spiritual quest. Pisces is less concerned with dogma (that's the realm of Sagittarius) and more with a real experience of the Divine. Uranus will remain in Pisces until 2011, bringing with it a huge influx of new religions, occult and not. Will Christian “megachurches” become even bigger and more popular? My guess is yes. How big and how popular is the question. Pluto's travel through Sagittarius through 2008 has brought with it issues of power and religion. Everywhere we turn we see this: The power of the religious right in the government of GW Bush, the battle in the middle east between Jews and Muslims, and between Shia and Sunni. In 2008 Pluto will enter Capricorn and begin creating and destroying our power structures. At that point we may see more banding together of religious groups (Uranus in Pisces) in order to form stronger power bases (Pluto/Capricorn). When artificial intelligence finally is created, I think we’re likely to see an enormous move towards religious organization around it. The fact is that (most) humans on some level do strive for an external authority. If we have a super-intelligence, I guarantee that one of the first things we’re going to ask it to tell us is whether or not there is a god, and it seems VERY likely that it’s answer is going to be: “Yes, me!” Or something similar. Or, we’re likely to see people feed this computer with a “complete” history of the world, a full text documentation of everything available from every religion, philosophy, etc. And we’ll ask the computer to find the “truth” in all of it. This I believe is what we are beginning to see as we move into the "Aquarian Age." Not the "Age of Aquarius" where the moon is in the seventh house and love will rule the sky, but a 2,000 year period where everything we believe we know turns out to be false and many of us become tuned in to sources of knowledge that are beyond the dimension in which we now live. Computer technology is associated with Uranus which rules Aquarius, and the boundary between computers and personal thought will begin to blur. When these changes take place, the concept of a divinity will be completely transformed. Another related alternative is that technology and mass deception is used by a power elite to fake the above scenario, or to fake the re-appearance of Christ or some other religious figure. Project Blue Beam conspiracies talk about projecting holograms into the sky of religious figures around the world along with microwave pulses conveying information in various languages, directly to the minds of percipients. If such a thing were indeed possible, the world would be pretty much ripe for the picking, I think. This could certainly happen at any time, but is very likely during the opening Uranus/Naptune square that will occur in the 2040s. Uranus opens a gateway of consciousness and Neptune can create illusion and delusion, and that is bound to be a time of difficulty. Here's a great article about the effect these planetary cycles have had throughout history. A fascinating topic; both technology and human consciousness are accelerating at a rate that has not been seen on earth before. I doubt that we can even imagine what even the next twenty years will bring.  The death of Jim Morrison was one of the first really sad events of my young life. As a young and lonely wanna-be hippie, his music took me to places beyond my reality that really did open the doors of consciousness. I discovered Jim Morrison's music at the same time I discovered Aldous Huxley and psychedelic pharmaceuticals, which began what was to become a lifelong exploration of the mystery of life. Huxley wrote, "When the doors of perception are cleansed /Things will appear as they are: Infinite. " Jim Morrison said, "There are things known and things unknown, and in between are the doors." Jim Morrison had Sun in Sagittarius, the sign of the seeker of truth. Sagittarians typically do not like to delve into the dark recesses of the human unconscious, but Jim's chart was more complex. Pluto, the god of the underworld that fearlessly enters the jaws of death to uncover the mystery, was exactly square his Moon and opposite his ascendant (rising sign), showing us that the archetype of death and rebirth (Pluto) was integral to his life (ascendant) and expression of his deepest emotions (Moon). Mars in his chart was in Gemini, which is a very expressive place for the sexual drives of Mars. Mars was conjunct Uranus, the planet of innovation and revolution - the perfect placement for a leader of a cultural revolution such as Jim Morrison was. Mars/Uranus combinations also indicate someone whose sexual tastes can be eccentric or extreme, and who is never satisfied with the status quo. His Venus was in Scorpio, showing that his relationships (Venus) were intense and rooted in issues of power and sexuality (Scorpio), and opposed his Moon in Taurus, expressing a need for physical pleasure and stability (Taurus) in order to feel secure (Moon). This opposition in a man's chart can indicate that he categorizes women into two archetypes: the mother (Moon) and the sexualized woman (Venus). In addition, Pluto made a square to both Venus and the Moon, making this a powerful T-square that created a great deal of emotional conflict within him, affecting all his partnerships. There were many other powerful influences in his chart as well: Saturn retrograde opposite the Sun, identifying him as painfully self-critical (Saturn retrograde) and with a low sense of self-esteem (opposite Sun) who with Mercury in Capricorn was constantly pressuring himself to achieve something and really be somebody. That Mercury was square Neptune, indicating that he was prone to fantasy and illusion. We can see how the forces in Jim Morrison's chart created a character that was larger than life, and since he made little attempt to achieve moderation in his life it is not surprising that he burned out at an early age. For those of us who idealized and idolized him, he remains a sentinel at the gate of awareness. In his own words: "I see myself as a huge fiery comet, a shooting star. Everyone stops, points up and gasps "Oh look at that!" Then - whoosh, and I'm gone... and they'll never see anything like it ever again, and they won't be able to forget me - ever. " Wednesday, December 07, 2005What's in store for TomDeLay?Middle Earth Journal has a good story today about Tom DeLay's situation, inspiring me to take a look at his astrological situation. DeLay is an Aries – ruled by the god of war. Aries are forceful, dynamic, and can be self absorbed as they pursue their quest for domination and leadership. His Aries Sun is makes an exact sextile (harmonious aspect) to Uranus (innovation and autonomy) in his chart, showing us that he is a man who charts his own course. He has Scorpio rising, with buoyant Jupiter on the ascendant – the mask that he wears to the world (rising sign/ascendant) is positive and optimistic (Jupiter). Scorpio rising people can be intimidating (Scorpio is ruled by Pluto, the god of the underworld and a very intense character himself), but DeLay’s Jupiter on the ascendant softens this and makes him appear more likeable and approachable. This combination can be very charismatic and very appealing to women especially. Because Jupiter represents religion and theology, on the ascendant (the persona) it can show someone for whom religion is actually a major piece of how he defines himself. Certainly this is true in DeLay’s case. Mars in his chart, defining how he expresses his drive and aggression, is in watery Pisces – NOT a dynamic placement! Pisces is the most mutable (flexible) of the mutable signs, and is more apt to swim around an issue that confront it head on. An Aries male, ruled by the god of war, can be extremely uncomfortable with such a sensitive Mars and this is probably the root of his well-known tendency towards alcoholism. The acceleration of Tom DeLay’s rise to power on the national stage began in late 2002 when transiting Pluto made a trine to DeLay’s Sun and opposed Uranus in his chart, and during this time DeLay was instrumental in redrawing Texas jurisdictional maps, resulting in the DeLay-led Republican party taking over both the House and Senate. This transit remained in effect through the end of 2004, and DeLay grew ever more powerful during that period. Despite several admonishments by the House Ethics Committee, his power remained undiminished. Throughout 2005 DeLay experienced a number of Jupiter transits, bloating (Jupiter) his natural tendency for self- aggrandizement. In August of 2005 transiting Saturn (restriction and discipline) conjuncted DeLay’s natal Saturn—usually a difficult time where we are forced to face the realities of our life and make serious changes. In August 2005 the Federal Elections Commission audited DeLay’s TRMPAC and found serious violations. DeLay’s astrological forecast shows several challenges ahead for him through next summer. Transiting Saturn will square his natal Chiron (wounded healer), a period that typically brings up old painful experiences and can create health problems if not dealt with – perhaps a recurrence of old alcoholic tendencies. Saturn will also conjunct Pluto, creating power struggles and conflicts. During this period Jupiter will square Pluto, and we are likely to see the famous DeLay bravado continue unabated as his power continues to diminish. Tuesday, December 06, 2005Chiron in Aquarius The synchronicity between the names given to planets by astronomers and the way they operate in astrology is one of the great mysteries of the heavens. In ancient times the astronomers WERE the astrologers, and as they observed the planet Venus in the sky they truly saw the goddess of love, Aphrodite, Ishtar, Inanna. In our modern scientific time there is a greater disconnect between the ancient archetypes and the natural world, and an argument can be made that our culture suffers as a result. Chiron is a "planetoid" in the Kuyper Belt that was discovered in 1977, and in astrology Chiron represents the body/mind connection, the healing process, and identifies an unhealable wound which motivates us to seek a higher purpose for our life. (More on Chiron here.) For that reason it is also associated with the wisdom that comes with experience For the past several years (since 2002) Chiron has been traveling through Capricorn, the sign that rules hard work and social structures - government, schools, corporations, marriage, and capitalism. During this period the curtain has been drawn on the ways in which these structures (Capricorn) have wounded our society (Chiron). The Enron and Worldcom debacles not only destroyed two companies, but also created a deep wound in the communities that served them. The so-called War on Terror created virtual concentration camps for "enemy combatants" where torture took place. The reputation of many governments (including the USA) have been destroyed and corruption revealed. The 2004 election created an even greater fracturing of American society. On a positive note, Chiron's pass through Capricorn over the past three years has brought many healing modalities into the mainstream of society and brought new respect to the concept of the body/mind connection. Chiron moved into Aquarius for the first time in February of this year and then turned back and made a final pass through Capricorn between July and December. What can we expect during the next five or so years as Chiron goes in and out through Aquarius? Aquarius is a sign of the air element: communicative, rational, and idealistic. It tends to be revolutionary in its desire for freedom and change to the status quo. Chiron last passed through Aquarius between 1955 and 1960. 1955 saw the beginning of the end of the idyllic (for white folks, that is) post-war era, the era of Ozzie and Harriet and the white picket fence. This interesting article cites many examples and a timeline, showing that in 1955 we saw the the first evidence of a fissure that was forming in the veneer of international society, and the beginnings of a subculture for whom freedom and innovation was the key motivating force. Elvis, James Dean, these rebellious figures in popular culture revealed the growing dissatisfaction with modern society. Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat that year, and how interesting that her death as Chiron re-enters Aquarius reminds us of the fight for freedom that so many African-Americans have suffered for. The introduction of the birth control pill heralded the dawn of the period of sexual freedom. During the next Chiron Aquarius period we are likely to see a new call for freedom from immigrants all over the world that are beginning to seek a new power in the countries that they now call home. Wherever our culture is stuck in a process that is harmful to individuals, there will be a breakdown in order for a new beginning to take place. Aquarius rules the nervous system, and I am concerned that our already overloaded psyches will begin to break down, and we will need to closely watch our young people who are the most vulnerable to psychic distress. Aquarius also rules technology, and the Internet will grow as a means for social groups to band together. An increased use of wireless technology will make it easier for humans to be constantly connected across the globe. Chiron's pass through Aquarius will affect most personally those with planets in the fixed signs: Aquarius, Leo, Scorpio and Taurus. Sunday, December 04, 2005Mars opposes Jupiter tonightWhen aggressive Mars confronts the king of the gods, watch for blowhards to blow even harder. Mars is retrograde in Taurus, the sign of economic and material security. During the retrograde portion of Mars' journey, it is gathering together material goods and creating an increased focus on security. Mars retrograding in Taurus is typically beneficial for the stock market. However, Jupiter can represent opportunities and possibilities, and can create a state of overconfidence where we may become reckless. For the next two weeks we will benefit from paying attention to how we are investing our money. Jupiter also represents our longing to find meaning in life and therefore our theology. The volume is increasing on the so-called "War against Christmas," and rhetoric in general becomes amplified during Mars/Jupiter periods. Watch for conflicts to escalate in Iraq and other places as Saturn brings in its efforts to restrict (Saturn) dissent (Mars/Jupiter), creating situations where violent reactions are the result. This will be a difficult but productive time, since conflict and tension motivate us to change and evolve. Saturday, December 03, 2005The Astrology of Lost All of the astrological signs are represented in the TV program Lost. Our astrological makeup is much more complex than just one astrological sign, but just for fun let's take a look at these fascinating characters. Many of them are wounded souls on a healing journey, so we tend to see the shadow side of the signs but we can also see the direction they are headed in their evolution:Aries - Sawyer is our Aries character. Primarily concerned with self-preservation, he is headstrong like the Ram and doesn't work well in a group. Aries has to be a leader, and if he can't be a leader he will want to operate alone. Sawyer originally set up his own camp and supplied himself with everything he would need. He is direct and not always tactful, and is not a good liar. He is passionate when stimulated, but can be cold as ice. As we see him begin to evolve we will see him take on more of the positive Aries characteristics: he may take on a greater leadership role in the group, and a possible relationship with Kate may soften his hard edges. Taurus - we don't know Mr. Eko very well yet, but he is a classic Taurus with his strong bull neck and deep rich voice. His comment "don't confuse coincidence with fate" is representative of Taurus's desire for a practical experience of reality, unfettered by confusion. Eko has in his brief appearance on the scene demonstrated the famous stubborn quality of Taurus and also the ability to remain calm and unruffled during a crisis. He makes decisions deliberately and is not impetuous, but once he's decided on a course of action it will be impossible to change his mind. Gemini - Moving like quicksilver, darting from here to there and with a youthful look and demeanor, Kate is our Gemini. Gemini is the twins, and there are always two personalities: one light and one dark. Kate is the unhappy girl who has murdered at least two people that we know of, yet she has a smile as bright and sunny as a spring morning. Geminis are impatient and versatile, they can dig a ditch and sing in a choir and the next minute they are cooking a ten course meal. But they have a tendency to hide from themselves--rather, the dark side and the light side will hide from each other. The quest for Gemini is to integrate and become a whole individual and this is Kate's challenge. Cancer - Sun may be our Cancerian. Devoted to her family and husband, she is a homebody and doesn't like to stray far from her camp. We often find her in the garden, where she creates herbal mixtures to help cure the ailments of her fellow castaways. Cancer is the nurturer, the keeper of family histories, the geneaologist. Like the crab, they are shy with a soft and vulnerable inner shell that they seek to protect. In the past she sacrificed herself for the sake of her father and her husband. We are beginning to see her come into her own and begin to nurture herself as well. Leo - Charlie embodies many traits that we associate with Leo. Seeking to express himself creatively with his music, he has a sunny disposition and is generally available to be helpful to the castaways. Leo longs to be admired and respected, and Charlie lives in the past when he basked in the adulation of his groupies and fans. He cares for Claire's child, but demands recognition for his abilities. The challenge for Leo is to begin to do good works for their sake and begin to let go of the egocentric desire for fame. However, like Charlie, Leos have big hearts and demonstrate kindness, and can always be counted on in an emergency. Virgo - Meticulous, cautious and adept with machinery, Sayid is our Virgo. Virgos are famously perfectionists, and their detail-oriented natures make them excellent travel companions. They always have just the right tools for the job, and if they don't they can improvise with items they find on the beach. Like Sayid, Virgos seek to help others and must have a job to do. They make excellent employees and are loyal to a fault, which will explain how Sayid could perform the tasks required of him in the Iraqi Republican Guard. They are not good at relaxing or vacations because something always needs to be done, and on the island Sayid rarely takes a break from the task of finding someone to rescue the castaways. In romance, a Virgo will often seek out a partner who needs their help; Sayid was the only one to see past Shannon's self-centered exterior into her wounded center. Libra - The departed Boone was our Libra. We didn't get to know him very well, and this is a characteristic of Libra. Libra is focused on the "other," and often loses the self in the process. Boone's focus was on pleasing those around him - what did Shannon need from him? What did Locke need? Libra is the Scales, and in seeking the famous Libra balance, they often tip from one end of the scale to the other in the effort to strike a balance and achieve personal harmony. Libras are focused on partnerships, and you will rarely find them alone. At the end of his life, with Locke's assistance, his Libra challenge was to balance his need to please those around him with a new strength in caring for himself. Scorpio - Michael is our Scorpio. Passionate and emotional, he embodies the fiery water of the Scorpio man. Scorpio doesn't flinch from intense emotions, and doesn't really care what others think. The intensity of their nature can be off-putting, but they make the best and most loyal friends and lovers. They have a smoldering sensuality that is very attractive to women as we saw with Sun's potential attraction to Michael. Scorpios can be strict disciplinarians as they have a tremendous respect for power and want to instill that in our children. Michael's challenge will be to channel his frustration into a sense of empowerment, and begin to learn to let go and trust that life will take care of him. Sagittarius - With her sunny disposition, Claire is our Sagittarian. Sagittarians are warm, generally optimistic, and typically liked by everyone. They generally have a great trust in life, unlike Scorpios, and this can make them naive in the face of danger. They typically dislike confrontation and prefer to approach life from a more superficial viewpoint, which can create problems as they ignore signals that warn of danger. Claire has great trust in Charlie, but may tend to prefer to remain unaware of some of the traits that have been bothering her about him. Capricorn - Hard-working Jack is our Capricorn. Capricorns tend to be serious and focused on a goal, they seek to build something lasting in the world and make their mark on society. Capricorn is ruled by Saturn which often represents the father, and Jack's complex relationship with his father makes him want to both please his father and surpass him. Capricorn privately yearns for joy, for happiness, but he is relentlessly driven from within and tends to feel responsible for everything and everyone. Jack takes his role as patriarch seriously, and rarely lets his secret desire for a personal life get in the way. His challenge in the healing process will be to learn to accept himself for who he is rather than what he can accomplish. Aquarius - The Aquarian embrace of oddity is embodied in John Locke. Aquarians seek a change to the status quo; they are not content to live life the way it's been lived before. The mystery of the island is not terrifying to Locke, he welcomes the opportunity to become transformed and sees more than anyone the healing properties that the island offers. He dislikes the hierarchy of power that puts Jack at the top rung of the ladder, and like all Aquarians prefers equality and brotherhood to a rigid social structure. "I love mankind, it's people I can't stand" is a common feeling among Aquarians. However, his ability to stand alone and allow himself to be transformed serves as a catalyst for the entire group of characters. Pisces - Hurley is our Pisces, the Fish. Pisces is a chameleon, like water, they take the shape of the container they find themselves in. They are supremely adaptable to all situations. Like Hurley, who faced with endless days of boredom created a golf course. It is easy for Pisces people to slip into an unconscious approach to living their life, and this can often bring a string of bad luck and as we saw. Hurley's winning of the lottery brought him nothing but misfortune. Pisces is creative, imaginative and romantic, and their challenge is to keep both feet on the grounds while they live in the clouds. Life on the Lost Island is teaching Hurley to do just that. Friday, December 02, 2005The honeymoon is finally over It's about time. Evidently, administration sources say Cheney's role in formulating policy is over. "Cheney's influence has waned not only because of bad chemistry, but because the White House no longer formulates policy," another source said. Any astrologer could have predicted that bad chemistry, it is clear from looking at the two men's charts. However, Bush's need for adulation (three planets in Leo and Leo rising) combined with his need to feel important (Sun square Jupiter) makes him a target for those who seek to influence him. Let's just hope the American people begin to wake up too. It's hard to imagine how 36% still approve of Mr. Cheney's job performance. Mercury is "stationary direct" today, meaning it has slowed down to a near stop before making its turn into forward motion tomorrow evening. Because astrology views planets from our perspective on earth, occasionally the planets appear to be moving backwards, and this is what we call "retrograde." My clients have heard me compare the effect that the movement of the planets have on us to a car (called transits) to a loud boombox that drives down your street. You start to hear the car as it rounds the corner, and that is when the energy of the planet enters your consciousness. You notice it but are not driven to make any changes to your life as a result. As the car gets closer and louder, and the windows start to shake, you start to pay attention. Then, if the planet does not retrograde, it just drives past the house and you settle back down into your daily life. Frequently, though, the planet will retrograde and turn around and drive back past our house. The second time it drives by, we become very alert to its effect. We may go out and yell at the car, we might even call the police. We are definitely motivated to make a change. While it's turning around, of course it slows down until it is nearly stopped and this is when we say the planet is "stationary" or "makes a station." When a planet is stationary, like Mercury is today and tomorrow before it turns direct (forward) again, its effect becomes pronounced. It's like the car with the loud boombox, parked outside your house and booming away. Today and tomorrow we take a last look back at issues that require change before we look again to the future. Thursday, December 01, 2005Looking ahead by looking back, part 2Bark Bark Woof Woof has an interesting post today comparing Bush's speech to the troops yesterday with Nixon's speech in 1969 about fighting the war in Vietnam. Each month I post an article describing the planetary dance for that month, and December's now up on my site.
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